Arch restorer



Feb. 16 1926, 1,573,652

. E. s. SNYDER moans-roman Filed ua q 24'. 1923 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

FFICE.

EARL S. SNYDER, 0!! :LONG EBE ACHQGALIFORNIA.

ARCH nns'ronnn.

Application filed March 24, 1923. Serial No. 627,449.

To-aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL S. SNYDER, a

citizen of the United States. residing at Long Beach. in the county of Los Angcles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Arch Restorers,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to orthopedic appliances and has for its object the provis on of a novel device for the purpose of massaging and restoringto normal position the bones of the foot whereby to correct what is commonly known as fallen arches. It is well known that the foot is composed of twenty-six bones held together with muscles and tendons. When the bones of the foot are; all articulating in harmony with one another. that is moving without friction. and

are all in alignment and proper relative positions, there is no pain m the foot and a normal and healthy eondltion exists. However when for any reason these bones sag at.

the joints or get out of alignment so that the joints do not articulate in harmony, pains, cramps, and soreness result owing to pressure against or pinching of the nerves and the general strain caused by this weakness. It is also well known that those suffering from this disordered condition of the bones frequently resort to the use of soealled arch supporters which are worn within the shoe and which engage beneath the middle or arch of the foot for the purpose of sustaining the arch and relieving the bones of a portion of the strain. However the fact remains that such devices are not thoroughly corrective in most instances and that by relieving the muscles of a por-- tion of their work they have a weakening effect so that their continued use becomes imperative.

It is with the above facts in view that I have designed the present device which consists of a peculiarly shaped roller upon which it is intended that the foot be-placed and moved back and forth while pressure. is exerted bythe foot upon the device, in order that a manipulating of the bones will result which will in ti1ne restore them to their normal or proper condition, the device having the further advantage ot'excrting, a massaging action on the muscles and tendons in addition to stimulating the circulation of .the blood so that the beneficial result will be that the muscles will be. strengthened and brought into healthy condition.

Another object; is the provisionof a device of this character which may be used by following simple directions and which does not require the advice of a physician, which cannot possibly cause any injury, either ermanent or temporary, which may be use in the privacy of the home without interfertence with ones work, and without lossof ime.

.With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the, accompanying drawings, in which:

vice.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I have shown my device as comprising an elongated roller designated broadly by the numeral 10 and including an elongated cylindrical end portion 11 and a shorter cylindrical endportion 12, both of which are intended to roll upon the fioor or other surface to serve as a guide. At substantially its centerthe roller is formed with a considerably reduced cylindrical portion 13 adjacent which is the compound curved active portion of the device including a rounded shoulder 14 and a tapered portion 15 merging into a curved surface 16 leading to the short cylindrical end guide 12. In

.the use of the device it is placed upon the floor while the person desiring treatment is seated in a convenient position. The foot to be treated is placed upon the device with the outside edge of the foot disposed toward the short cylindrical end 12. The user then rolls the device back and forth beneath the foot entirely from the heel to a point as near the extremity of the toes as is possible while at the same time he applies pressure. As the device is curved it is 'quite evident that it will press upon the bones at the center of the foot and force them into shape, the action. naturally depending upon the degree of pressure exerted. A misplaced condition of the joints is disclosed by a sensation of pain when pressure is exerted but it it necessary thatthe rolling and pressing be continued nevertheless and aft-er a comparatively short time the initial feeling of soreness will abate. As the rolling action is continued it is intended that the foot be worked toward the center of the roller, this being done easily by slightly angling the foot The figure is a side elevation of the del which causes it to creep toward the center of the device. As the hollow portion or inside edge of the foot comes more and more in contact with the rounded shoulder 14 of the roller it is apparent that the action on the bones will be more marked asthis shoulder portion fits up closely within the arch. Pressure is constantly applied regardless of the point along the roller engaged by the foot. As the treatment is continued the user finds that. he is able to exert more and more pressure without discomfort. The rolling action is carried on for as long a time as may be desired for the individual treatment and it is of course necessary thatthe treatments be continued over possibly a considerable length of time until the muscles, tendons and joints have been restored to normal condition. incidentally the circulation is st nmlated and the muscles of the ankles calf of the leg and knee are exercised. A fter treating one foot the device is turned around or reversed so as to be in proper position for treating the other foot.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simple, inexpensive and easily used device which efficiently performs all the t'unctions tor net/aces whichit is intended and which involves no necessity for expert medical advice and which requires practically no skill in its manipulation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from. the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim. V

I claim:

An orthopedic appliance consisting of an elongated roller having cylindrical end portions constituting bearing surfaces and guides, said roller having a greatly reduced cylindrical intermediate portion and a tapered compound curved portion leading from said intermediate portion-to one of said cylindrical end portions said compound curved portion having its maximum diameter at a point spaced s ightly from. its juncture with the intermediate cylindrical portion, and tapering toward said last named cylindrical end portion and merging thereinto along a curved line.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

EARL S. SNYDER. 

